Resilient securing means for watch movements



Dec. 30, 1952 H. GERBER 2,623,350

RESILIENT SECURING MEANS FOR WATCH MOVEMENTS Filed March 11, 1947 I N V EN TOR. #:wz/ 65(55? Patented Dec. 30, 1952 RESILIENT SECURING MEANS FOR l/VATCH MOVEMENTS Henri Gerber, Bienne, Switzerland, assignor to Omega Louis Brandt & Frere S. A., a company of Switzerland Application March 11, 1947, Serial No. 733,878 In Switzerland March 8, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 8, 1966 12 Claims.

This invention relates to watch movements particularly for watertight watches.

For holding the movements in watertight watches comprising either a combined bezel and center or a combined bottom and center, fitting rings have hitherto been used in the form of short tubes with very thin walls and with springy tongues, bent towards the center of the watchcase. These tongues were not very efficacious. Besides, they occupied a space between the case bottom and the outer faces of the bridges of the base plate, which augments the total height of the timepiece.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid this increase in height while fixing the movement in the watchcase by means of an elastic pressure, i. e., while leaving a certain play to the tolerances necessary for the packings.

An important feature of the Watch movement according to the invention is that, for being held in place in the watchcase, it comprises at least one plate spring mounted on the circumference of the movement and tensioned by the closing of the watchcase, that is, either by the bottom or by the bezel.

By preference, the plate spring comprises a fixing strip and a resilient strip connected with each other by at least one of their ends. The said fixing strip may either be screwed to or hooked onto the circumference of the base plate of the movement or fixed to this plate by means of eyelets bent into a plane parallel to that of the base plate.

The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of a watch movement according to the invention, and different forms of the plate springs used in this movement.

Fig. 1 shows, in a perspective view and only in so far as is required for the comprehension of the invention, the base plate of the movement of a watertight watch, and

Figs. 2 to 6 are perspective views illustrating difierent forms of plate springs which can be used in the movement of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, l designates the base plate of the watch movement. It ha the usual circumferential rim II by means of which it is supported on a corresponding part of the watchcase, for instance, pressed against a shoulder of the bezel by the bottom screwed to the combined bezel and center of the watchcase.

A plate spring i3 is fixed to the plate I by means of screws I2. This plate spring comprises a fixing strip l4 and a resilient strip [5 which are connected with each other at their ends, and

2 are separated from one another by a slot, |6.'. The resilient strip [5 has in its middle 2. projec-- tion I! on which a pressure is exerted by thebottom of the watchcase in order to make the flexibility of the resilient strip l5 effective and to hold in this way the movement in place.

The movement plate shown in Fig. 1 has two plate springs lying diametrically opposite each other. However, there might be three springsdisplaced by with regard to one another.

The movement according to the invention: might also carry plate springs of the kind shown.- in Fig. 2. This plate spring comprises elongated; openings through one of the ends of which the: head of a screw can be passed, screw and open' ing forming together a keyhole locking means;

In the design of Fig. 3 the spring plate com-- prises eyelets l8 bent into a plane parallel to that. of the base plate and serving for fixing the spring." plate to the movement.

The plate spring shown in Fig. 4 has a resilient spring l5 split in its middle so as to form two elastical arms whose projections I! are sup-- ported on the bottom screwed to the remaining: part of the watchoase.

The plate spring as illustrated in Fig. 5, com-- prising likewise two eyelets l8, has a resilient spring is which is only at one end connected with the fixing strip l 4.

In the design of Fig. 6 the fixing strip is cut out. The remaining ends 20 carry eyelets ill for fixing the plate spring to the base plate of the movement to which it belongs.

What I claim is:

1. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and means securing said plate spring to said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a basev member lying outside and adjacent said rim, a resilient strip fixed to said base member, and a. projection fixed to said resilient strip and extending away from said base member substantially at right angles to the plane of said baseplate and having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilientv strip. 7

2. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed tosaid base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a base member lying outside and adjacent said rim, a resilient strip integral with said base member, and a projection integral with said resilient strip and extending away from said base member substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

3. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said. rim and fixed to said base plate, said plate spring.

comprising: a base member lying outside and adjacent said rim, a resilient strip fixed to said base member, and with its side faces substantially fiush with the side faces of said base memher, and a projection fixed to said resilient strip and extending away from said base member substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and with its side faces substantially fiush with the side faces of said resilient strip, said projection having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

4. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a base member lying outside and adjacent said rim, a resilient strip integral with said base member and with its side faces substantially fiush with the side faces of said base member, and a projection integral with said resilient strip and extending away from said base member substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and with its side faces substantially flush with the side faces of said resilient strip, said projection having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

5. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a base strip running outside and along said rim, an upright end portion on a lateral end of said base strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond one longitudinal edge of r said base strip, a resilient strip integral with the free end of said upright end portion and arranged at a distance from the adjacent longitudinal edge of said base strip, and a projection integral with said resilient strip and extending away from said base strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

6. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and comprising: a base member lying outside and adjacent said rim, a lug turned into a plane parallel to the plane of said base plate and having a hole engaged by said fixing means, said lug being integral with said base member, a resilient strip integral with said base member, and a projection integral with said resilient strip and extending away from said base member substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

'7. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said rim, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and comprising: a fixing strip parallel to and adjacent said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said fixing strip on said base plate, upright end portions on either lateral end of said fixing strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond one longitudinal edge of said fixing strip, a resilient strip integral with the free ends of said upright end portions and arranged at a distance from the adjacent edge of said fixing strip, and a projection integral with the middle portion of said resilient strip, extending away from said fixing strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

8. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and comprising: a base strip running outside and along said rim, lugs integral with said base strip and turned into a plane parallel to the plane of said base plate and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, an upright end portion on a lateral end of said base strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond one longitudinal edge of said base strip, a resilient strip integral with the free end of said upright end portion and arranged at a distance from the adjacent longi-- tudinal edge of said base strip, and a projection integral with said resilient strip and extending away from said base strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free face to contact with a watchcase membar for tensioning said resilient strip.

9. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim and a flange extending radially outward of said rim, pins fixed to said rim, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and comprising: a fixing strip parallel to and adjacent said rim and having keyholes engaged by said pins to fix said fixing strip to said base plate, upright end portions on either lateral end of said fixing strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond the longitudinal edge of said fixing strip away from said flange, a resilient strip integral with the free ends of said upright end portions and arranged at a distance from the adjacent edge of said fixing strip and with its side faces substantially flush with the side faces of said fixing strip, and a projection integral with the middle portion of said resilient strip, extending away from said fixing strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and with its side faces substantially flush with the side faces of said resilient strip, said projection having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

10. In a timepiece movement,v a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said rim, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a base strip running outside and along said rim, upright end portions on either lateral end of said base strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond one longitudinal edge of said base strip, two resilient strips, one

integral with the free end of the one, and the other integral with the free end of the other of said upright end portions, said resilient strips being arranged at equal distance from the adjacent longitudinal edge of said base strip and with their free ends at a distance from each other and two projections, the one integral with the free end of the one of said resilient strips, the other integral with the free end of the other of said resilient strips, these projections extending away from said base strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strips.

11. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller than the circumference of said rim and having holes engaged by said fixing means to hold said plate spring on said base plate, said plate spring comprising: a base strip running outside and along said rim, an upright end portion on a lateral end of said base strip, integral with the latter and extending beyond one longitudinal edge of said base strip, a resilient strip integral with the free end of said upright end portion and running up to the end of the base strip away from said upright end portion while leaving a space between itself and said base strip open at the end turned away from said upright end portion, and a projection integral with the free lateral end of said resilient strip and extending away from said base strip substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

12. In a timepiece movement, a base plate having a circumferential rim, fixing means fixed to said base plate, a plate spring of a length smaller then the circumference of said rim and comprising: two base members lying outside and adjacent said rim at a distance from each other, two lugs turned. into a plane parallel to the plane of said base plate and having holes engaged by said fixing means, one of said lugs being integral with one of said base members and the other lug integral with the other base member, a resilient strip integral with the free ends of said base members and arranged at a distance from said lugs in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base plate, and a projection integral with the middle portion of said resilient strip, extending away from said base members substantially at right angles to the plane of said base plate and having a free end face to contact with a watchcase member for tensioning said resilient strip.

HENRI GERBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 287,152 Morgan Oct. 23, 1883 985,739 Gold Feb. 28, 1911 1,828,686 Schwarz Oct. 20, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,923 Switzerland July 9, 1903 76,578 Switzerland June 1, 1918 77,405 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1918 81,931 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1919 197,916 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1938 212,676 Switzerland Mar. 17, 1941 215,998 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1941 

